Convicts' products go up for sale in Phuket
Wiparatana Nathalang

PHUKET: -- Products made by inmates of prisons across the 14 provinces of Southern Thailand will be for sale at the area around the Saphan Hin stage from Friday (June 6) to June 14. Stalls selling the products will be open from 9am to 10pm.

The products are all made by those currently languishing in 22 prisons and four correctional institutes in the South.

They include wood, rattan, metal and marble furniture, furniture made from tree roots, home appliances, and arts, crafts and needlework from Songkla Female Correctional Institute.

The purpose of the exhibition is to publicise the work done by prisoners as part of their rehabilitation, and to raise revenue from the products. Some of the money will be used to buy materials and tools, while a portion will go to prisoners to give them start-up funds when they are returned to society.

The prices of products range from B50 to B40,000.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/convicts’-products-go-up-for-sale-in-phuket-46635.php


-- Phuket News 2014-06-03

This sounds like a very good program. However, without adequate audit processes - something it may have, I don't know - it is open to very serious abuse.

These events are held every year.

Unfortunately, the good stuff is always already sold whenever I get there.

Out of interest, in Thailand, what is the difference between a "prison" and a "correctional institute?"

Are "correctional institutes" for juveniles, or non-violent offenders?